Lewis Swift discovered NGC 7452 = Sw. II-95, along with NGC 7455 and NGC 7459, on 14 Oct 1884 and recorded "eeeF; pL; R; e diff.; np of 2 [with NGC 7459]." His position falls within a small cluster, 9 seconds of RA east of UGC 12302. RNGC, MCG and PGC identify UGC 12302 as NGC 7452. It's the brightest member of the cluster and a double system with nuclei only 10" apart. Herbert Howe apparently also identified this galaxy as NGC 7452 (MN, Vol 60, 129).

As an alternative, Corwin suggests that NGC 7452 = LEDA 1306660, the second brightest in the cluster. This places NGC 7452 21 seconds of RA preceding Swift's position (matching in dec). This identification was first made by Kobold in his 1907 catalogue. NED and HyperLeda now both use this identification. This implies NGC 7459 = UGC 12302, which is 12 seconds of RA larger (Swift's difference is 20 seconds).

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/18/95): extremely faint and small, round, 15" diameter, very low surface brightness. Requires averted vision but observation repeatable. Located 3.1' W of NGC 7459. A mag 14.5 star lies 2.1' SSW. This galaxy is not listed in any modern catalogue and the identifications of NGC 7452 and NGC 7459 are uncertain due to poor positions by Lewis Swift.

600/800mm - 24" (12/28/13): at 282x appeared faint, very small, round, 12" diameter, extremely small or stellar nucleus. Located at 3.1' W of brighter UGC 12302 (NGC 7459?).

Notes by Steve Gottlieb